8 Steps to Hiring Amazing Virtual Staff

Are you one of those start-up or small business owners who are bogged down by too many emails or data entry tasks to do everyday? Tired of constantly updating your own company website, Instagram, Facebook and other social media pages? Having a difficult time juggling important client meetings with your endless to-do lists?

Outsourcing your most time-consuming, repetitive business processes may be the answer to your problem!

You’ve likely heard about outsourcing countless of times from within your business circles. After all, many business owners and entrepreneurs swear by it as the single most significant strategic decision they’ve ever made for their companies. Hiring virtual staff is not only financially cost-effective it also allows you to focus your energy on more important things like growing your business and achieving your goals.

The question is: how do you ensure you hire virtual staff that best fit your business needs?

Global outsourcing expert Esther Anderson believes that with the proper system and processes in place, you will be able to attract the right candidates and create a team of professional virtual staff who can help run, support and grow your business. Esther shares her proven effective system to improve your HR processes, making it easier to employ the right people for your company. Here’s how!

How to Attract the Best Virtual Staff

Step 1: Define what processes you need your staff to carry out

Determine whether you need an all-rounder or a specialist on a specific task.

Identify how many hours per week in each field you need them in total.

Step 7: Test week and probation period

The first week is a trial week for your staff (you can also have a probation period of 3 months). They will get involved in the process but it will be a test. If you are pleased with their performance, go to step 8. IF not, go back to step 4. This can be at a reduced rate if appropriate. You can even have more than one employee on a trial

On the first day, set expectations and meet with your new staff member

Ask them for their expectations and answer any questions they have

Give tasks that you will normally require from their position

Give feedback on what you like and dislike with their work

Take note of the work ethics and the ability to perform tasks independently

Your new staff member should be able to adapt mid-week or towards the end of the week

Step 8: Onboarding the new staff member

Properly introduce the staff to the team, any clients they will be working with, and to your processes and tools.

Like with any new venture, engaging virtual staff is a very important decision and investment you can make. You wouldn’t want to waste your precious time and money making the wrong decisions. So it is important that you arm yourself with the right processes and tools to help you attract and select the right people for your business.

Luckily you need not have to go through this blindfolded. There are hundreds of virtual staff agencies out there with the expertise and experience that can help you.

But if budget is an issue, there’s no reason why you can’t DIY! Simply follow this 8-step process using the templates and tools provided and you’ll soon be on your way to hiring the virtual assistant you’ve been waiting for.

System Architect – Esther Anderson

Originally starting out with a website and design company, Esther Anderson employed virtual staff. Over time they set up ideal processes on how tasks were to be done. They grew their team which resulted in her flying to the Philippines several times to conduct staff training.

Esther and her team developed their systems so well, they were able to open up a virtual staff agency where they provide trained staff to clients in different fields. The difference is that the staff are always employed by them and they provide a guarantee on their work standards. The bonus is that they unbox the systems and processes that clients need when first setting up a business